Over-Ear
Audeze LCD-XC
74Great
$1,800
Full review dataAudeze LCD-XC vs HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled - Outstanding overall at around $1199.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
84Outstanding
$1,200
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Audeze LCD-XC
- HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
HearWiki score
74
84
Sound
8.7
9.4
Value
7.3
8.0
Price (USD)
$1,800
$1,200
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is 11 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 11 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- LCD-XC2013
- Arya Unveiled202411 yr newer
Specifications
LCD-XCArya Unveiled
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $1,800
- $1,200
- HearWiki score
- 74
- 84
- Released
- 2013
- 2024
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 106 mm planar magnetic
- planar magnetic
- Driver type
- planar
- planar
- Driver size
- 106 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- -
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 8 Hz - 65 kHz
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 27 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB/mW
- 94 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- -
- No
- Weight
- 677 g
- 413 g
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- Connector
- -
- 6.35 mm
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
Audeze LCD-XC
The Audeze LCD-XC is a premium closed-back planar magnetic headphone built for professional monitoring, featuring large 106 mm drivers that deliver precise, detailed sound. Its closed design provides passive acoustic isolation, making it suitable for tracking and mixing in noisy environments. With a wired connection and high sensitivity, it's engineered for accuracy rather than portability or wireless convenience.
- Pro:Excellent sound accuracy and detail for professional monitoring
- Pro:Large 106 mm planar drivers provide low distortion
- Pro:Closed-back design offers passive isolation for focused listening
- Con:Heavy at 677 grams, which may cause fatigue during long sessions
- Con:No active noise cancellation or wireless features
- Con:Requires a dedicated amplifier due to low impedance and planar design
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail, tonal accuracy, and a balanced soundstage, making it a strong contender for audiophiles. Its grill-less design reduces reflections for cleaner audio, and it offers easy drivability for its class, though the exposed drivers require careful handling. With a neutral-to-warm tuning and broad frequency extension, it provides a compelling blend of technical performance and musicality.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and tonal accuracy
- Pro:Spacious and well-defined imaging
- Pro:Comfortable for extended listening sessions
- Con:Exposed driver design requires careful handling
- Con:Limited connectivity options out of the box
- Con:Ear-cup material may not appeal to everyone
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.